8H) Talk one-on-one
Talk with ML children one-on-one, providing targeted, language interactions, based on their needs.
Strategy Overview: Math Thinking Conversations
This document offers suggestions on how a teacher can use strategic conversations and prompting to learn about students' mathematical vocabulary and thinking.Read More
Video: Counting
In this videoclip Gustavo counts and organizes colored block manipulatives during play-based activity time in the preschool classroom.Read More
Video: Oral Language Analysis—K-3rd
In this video, the teacher gathers a small group of Multilingual Learners to engage in a brief discussion in response to structured prompts regarding an artifact from the class' ongoing content learning. The teacher records each child's oral responses, and then analyzes the record to identify follow-up instruction they can provide during upcoming Designated ELD time.Read More
Video: English, Spanish, and Chinese, too
This video is an example of an interaction between a teacher and a child that respects and promotes all types of language learning in the classroom. The teacher and child read together and build a conversation about speaking in English, Spanish, and Chinese.Read More
Video: A Boy and His Puzzle
As a boy plays with a puzzle, both an English-speaking peer and the teacher help him develop and practice English learning.Read More
Video: Toy Animals
This video clip shows both English and Spanish-speaking teachers developing student content knowledge about animals through oral conversations. Students then paint animals using toys as examples and share knowledge about their paintings so teachers can write down what each child says.Read More
Video: Sharing at the Easel—Transference
This clip is an example of a teacher listening to a child narrate what she has drawn, and carefully labeling it with the child's exact words. The teacher acknowledges responses given in both English and Spanish.Read More
Video: My Pumpkin Story—Metalinguistic Awareness
A teacher works with Wendy to orally discuss and write a story about a recent pumpkin project. When the teacher asks Wendy to take her writing home, the interaction changes to Spanish so Wendy can talk to her Spanish-speaking mother about her project.Read More
Video: Soyul & Teacher Yvette—Beginning a New Language
This video is a series of excerpts from the first months of preschool for Soyul, a Korean-speaking Multilingual Learner. The video showcases instructional moves that the teacher, Yvette, makes to teach English language development during Soyul's initial silent period.Read More
Video: The Stages of Preschool Second Language Acquisition
In this video, the term the four stages of second language development for early education are described and then exemplified through teaching vignettes between one teacher and one Korean-speaking Multilingual Learner.Read More
Video & Video Guide: Adventures in Preschool Second Language Acquisition
This video showcases the relationship between one teacher and one Korean-speaking Multilingual Learner and her family. The video includes vignettes of teaching, interviews with the teacher, the family, and administrators, and many rich examples of English development teaching strategies. The accompanying guide suggests moments in the video to pause to notice teachers’ practice, along with prompts for reflection and discussion.Read More
Video: Differentiating Instruction in Writer’s Workshop in a 3rd-Grade Dual Immersion Classroom
A third-grade teacher talks through her implementation of a writer's workshop and her one-on-one conferencing with Multilingual Learners. This allows her to differentiate instruction and accelerate each student's English language learning.Read More
Video: Oral Language Development Through Integrated & Designated ELD
This video showcases a series of ELD lessons in a kindergarten class, aimed at preparing Multilingual Learners to orally give and write an opinion. The teacher incorporates both direct instruction and multiple opportunities for students to work with peers.Read More
Tip Sheet: Supporting English Language Development When Children Have Little Experience with English
This resource provides several ways that teachers can support Multilingual Learners (MLs) in their English language development, even if teachers do not speak the learner's home language. Strategies include modeling English in one-on-one conversations, waiting for MLs to process language, and using a mix of closed- and open-ended questions.Read More
Video: Tips for Teaching Newcomers
This video introduces instructional tips that elementary teachers can use to support instruction for newcomer Multilingual Learners, including visuals, gradual release, shared writing, and recognizing what students are bringing to their learning.Read More
Video: Juicy Sentence Example with Butterflies (K)
This video is an example of a teacher facilitating a "juicy sentence" discussion with a group of kindergarteners learning about butterflies. The juicy sentence strategy helps Multilingual Learners access complex text through the study of a mentor sentence.Read More
Article: Understanding the Silent Period with English Learners
This article offers both verbal and non-verbal actions that a teacher can take during language interactions with Multilingual Learners in the "silent period" of English language acquisition. Connection is important to both build relationships and meet these students' individual language needs.Read More
Strategy Overview: The Art of Listening to English Learners
This article offers teachers tips on how to listen to Multilingual Learners, especially those who are just beginning to share their thinking in English. While listening, teachers can informally assess language to inform their future instruction.Read More
Video: Conferring with Young English Language Learners
In this short video, a teacher discusses strategies that support one-on-one conferring with Multilingual Learners, even when she does not speak the home language of the student.Read More
Website: Environment and Materials to Support Dual Language Learners
This resource describes the ways that teachers can set up their classroom environments to support Multilingual Learners. For example, teachers can include labels and other functional print in the home language and display and provide culturally relevant materials.Read More
